KUCHING: The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania on Friday awarded the Wharton Dean’s Medal to Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, a Penn alumna who has had a tremendous economic impact on the Asia region and beyond.
Wharton’s Dean Geoffrey Garrett in a press statement said, “Zeti is a leader of amazing accomplishments. She has successfully navigated the Malaysian economy through more than one financial crisis.
“She is dedicated to good governance and has been a trailblazer with her widely recognized work in both regional financial integration and internationalisation of Islamic finance.
“Zeti is an incredible policy maker, central banker, and person, and we are proud to count her as a friend of the Wharton School.
“It is an honour to present her with the Dean’s Medal,” Garrett said.
Meanwhile, Wharton School said the Dean’s Medal was created in 1983 to recognise outstanding leaders of private enterprise, public service, and academia.
The business school added the awardees were chosen for their contributions to the enlargement of the global economy and to improvement in the lives of people worldwide.
Wharton School said the Dean of the school selects only a very small number of individuals who, through excellence in management, have truly made a difference in the creation of wealth and value, and in the promotion of a peaceful and prosperous world for the award.
The business school pobserved that Zeti has had an important role in successfully managing the economy during the Asian Financial Crisis in the late 1990s and more recently on the effects of the global financial crisis.
“During both episodes, a strong rapid recovery was achieved. The policies approach, the financial and economic reforms and the courage to break new ground has drawn significant international attention.
“Additionally, the wide-ranging financial reforms and the development of the financial markets and infrastructure have resulted in a financial sector that is more diversified, sound and resilient to face the challenges of the changing global financial landscape.
“This period also saw several new legislations enacted for the financial sector and the progressive liberalization of the Malaysian financial system,” Wharton said.
In the Asian region, Wharton School observed Zeti has been actively involved in strengthening regional cooperation and financial integration.
In 2006, the business school said she chaired the Executives’ Meeting of East Asia Pacific Central Banks (EMEAP) taskforce that prepared the report for the future direction of central bank financial cooperation in the region which continues until today.
A founding member of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Asian Consultative Council, Zeti was also the first co-chair of the Financial Stability Board Regional Consultative Group for Asia.
She also participates extensively in international forums in many parts of the world including in Asia, Europe, the US, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.